Tag: Hails

CAMP LIBERTY - US Defence Secretary Robert Gates on Thursday hailed the "extraordinary" progress made in Iraq, and said Baghdad set an example for democracy in the region.
Gates, who arrived in Baghdad on Wednesday evening, met with Lieutenant General Lloyd Austin, commander of US military forces in Iraq, before going into talks with Iraqi leaders.
He was due to meet Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and President Jalal Talabani, and expected to travel to northern Iraq for talks

LAHORE - Samsung Electronics, a global leader in digital media and digital technologies, recently received strong praise from Europe's leading Audio Visual Magazines for their Full HD 3D Smart TVs.
Top electronics and Audio Visual magazines in the UK like T3, What Hi Fi Vision & Sound and CNET UK all gave Samsung's Full HD 3D Smart TV 8000 series ranked the product highly in the areas of picture quality, design, 3D glasses, rear mounted downward firing stereo speakers, online

ASTANA - A promise of stability in a volatile region won veteran Kazakh leader Nursultan Nazarbayev an overwhelming victory on Monday in a snap presidential election criticised by European monitors for irregularities. Nazarbayev, 70, won another five years at the helm of Central Asia's largest economy by pledging peace and economic growth in the predominantly Muslim country, where the echo of popular revolutions across the Arab world is almost inaudible. The former steelworker, who

KARACHI - Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI) Chairman Syed Johar Ali Qandhari has welcomed the government's decision to restore zero-rating of five export sectors.
In a statement, Johar stressed that following marathon meetings by FPCCI's Special Committee regarding the FBR comprising Senator Haji Ghulam Ali, Tarique Sayieed S M Muneer and Mian Zahid Husain with senior officials of the FBR, the government has agreed to restore zero-rating on five exports sectors and

SANAA - Huge rival protests split Yemen's capital as security forces deployed in unprecedented strength for another Friday showdown on the streets between President Ali Abdullah Saleh's backers and foes.
"I pledge... to sacrifice myself for the people, with my blood and with everything I hold dear," Saleh said, thanking his supporters inside and outside Yemen in the face of two months of escalating protests calling for his ouster. Despite fears of an outbreak of violence, tens of

WASHINGTON - The United States on Thursday praised the "cricket diplomacy" between India and Pakistan after their leaders met for a game, saying that better ties between the rivals were in the world's interest. "The expansion of dialogue between India and Pakistan is a welcome and encouraging development for both countries, for the region and for the world," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said in a statement. But while the US voiced support for the dialogue, it said that future

COLOMBO - Sri Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara credited his bowlers for keeping up the pressure on England right from the first ball in the World Cup quarter-final on Saturday. The Sri Lankans restricted Andrew Strauss's men to 229-6 before cruising to the target in the 40th over for an emphatic 10-wicket victory in the day-night clash at the R. Premadasa stadium. Tillakaratne Dilshan (108) and Upal Tharanga (102) struck unbeaten centuries to cap a miserable outing for England and book

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan on Wednesday welcomed the transfer of security and development responsibilities from NATO/ISAF to Afghanistan government and facilitated the Karzai administration with assurance of full cooperation in future. "We have noted the important statement made by President Karzai on Tuesday in Kabul regarding the transfer of security and development responsibilities to the Afghan government," said the foreign office spokesperson, Tehmina Janjua, in a statement.
She

CHENNAI - Captain Andrew Strauss praised England's character after a tense six-run win over South Africa reignited their World Cup campaign but said he did not want any more cliffhangers. England, just days after a shock three-wicket loss to minnows Ireland looked all but beaten as the in-form Proteas advanced to 63 without loss, chasing 172 for victory at the Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Sunday. The Ashes heroes had tied with India earlier in the tournament. "We've been involved

COLOMBO - Canada captain Ashish Bagai praised opposite number Shahid Afridi after the Pakistan talisman smothered his team's push for an upset World Cup win.
"We started off with the approach of trying to milk him for 30-35 runs, but once he gets wickets he gets right on top of you," said Bagai. "He gets his variations going and then it gets harder and harder." Bagai had been hoping that Ireland's stirring victory over England could have inspired his team, but once again their

LAHORE - All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) Chairman Gohar Ejaz thanked President Asif Ali Zardari for immediately restoring gas to textile industries in Punjab and ensuring prompt compliance of the directive.
Addressing a news conference, here on Thursday, along with SNGPL Deputy Managing Director Shariq and APTMA office-bearers, Gohar Ejaz said that Faisalabad had been given preference in restoration of five weeks gas supply to industries in Punjab on the APTMA's

TEHRAN - Iran on Saturday revelled in US discomfiture at the loss of veteran ally Hosni Mubarak and pointedly ignored parallels, bluntly drawn by Washington, between the protest movements in Cairo and Tehran.
Iranian officials trumpeted the fact that the veteran Egyptian strongman's shock resignation after 18 straight days of protests came on February 11 -- the same day as the 1979 Islamic revolution which overthrew the US-backed shah. And disregarding US accusations of

ALMATY - International Olympic Committee (IOC) chief Jacques Rogge on Tuesday welcomed Kazakhstan's decision to enter the race for the right to host 2022 Winter Olympic Games. "It is my pleasure to say that, after discussions with the Kazakhstan government, they have expressed a strong wish to be a contender for the 2022 Olympic Games here in this beautiful city," Rogge said at an Asian Olympic Council meeting at Astana.
"This is what they are aiming for," Rogge added. "The

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan's Taliban-fighting soldiers are set for celebrity status with the launch of a multi-million-dollar glossy television drama hailing army victories over militants. Emotive tales of 11 "brave Pakistanis" battling an Islamist insurgency that is plaguing Pakistan and neighbouring Afghanistan, will air on the small screen in an army-funded drama that casts the anti-terror fight in a positive light.
Focused on the heroism of soldiers fighting a key air and ground

MANCHESTER - Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini hailed unsettled captain Carlos Tevez after his brace helped City move to the top of the Premier League.
In an entertaining encounter at Eastlands, Tevez's brilliant double, and goals from brothers Kolo and Yaya Toure, ensured Mancini's men came from behind against Wolves to eventually win 4-3.
That helped them leapfrog neighbours Manchester United at the Premier League summit after their seventh home win of the season.

LAHORE - The Pakistan Cotton Forum (PCF) has appreciated APTMA for its efforts in securing a free market for cotton trade. APTMA, by seeking timely intervention from the President of Pakistan, helped in a transfer of Rs 200 billion to the farm sector. PCF Chairman Seth Muhammad Akber expressed hope that this financial resource transfer to the farm sector would steer cotton farmers out of the devastating impact of recent floods, principally hitting the cotton growing areas.
He

KARACHI - Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association (PAMA) has threatened the government that if the proposed new entrant policy for new auto manufacturers was approved, the business and development of local auto parts venders would be severely affected.
Talking about the proposed new entrants policy, director general PAMA Abdul Waheed Khan, , said that under the proposed policy, the new entrants are allowed to import at 32.5 percent duty without using local components for a